The N.C. Education Lottery has established records for sales and contributions in fiscal year 2012, and it's also made nearly three dozen people rich.

Lottery officials say ticket sales rose for the sixth year in a row, reaching an estimated $1.59 billion for the fiscal year, which ended on June 30. That's an increase of 9.2 percent. Higher sales also produced a record for yearly transfers to education of $456.7 million.

Twenty people won $1 million or more playing instant games. Eleven won playing Powerball and two captured Mega Millions cash. A Greenville family won $57 million; their share of a Mega Millions jackpot. Three North Carolinians each won $4 million playing instant games.

Winners came from 22 North Carolina counties, with three winners each from Durham and Forsyth counties.